Create a hands-on clock to help school age kids learning to tell time. Whether your child is home-schooled or learning common core math, a hands-on math manipulative turns worksheet-based lessons into math games. When we can get the learning into our child’s hands it can help them think about more complex problems with a much more clear view.

This hands-on clock for learning to tell time is created out of a CD or DVD. It is a fun DIY toy. We found it really helpful for the Stretch Your Thinking problems on Common Core math homework. My second grader was immediately able to move the clock hands to help him answer a problem. Using this hands-on clock was so helpful.

I have some great learning to tell time activities listed at the end of this post for you too!

Learning to Tell Time: Hands-On Clock

Supplies:

CD or DVD

pipe cleaner (cut in half)

2 buttons (1/2-inch to 1-inch in diameter)

permanent marker (fine tip)

STEP 1-Write numbers on the CD to create a clock face. Add marks for the minutes by drawing on 4 tick marks in between each number.

STEP 2-Fold the pipe cleaner in half, but let one end extend farther than the other. (These will be the hour and minute hands of our clock.)

Put the longer end of the pipe cleaner through one button hole, and then place the shorter end through another button hole.

Ease the button down by pulling the pipe cleaner ends until the button rests at the bend in the pipe cleaner.

STEP 3-Feed both ends of the pipe cleaner through the hole in the back of the CD (the side without the numbers). Pull through so that the button is snug against the side of the CD.

STEP 4-Place the other button on by sliding one end of the pipe cleaner though one button hole and the other end of the pipe cleaner through the opposite button hole.

Push the button all the way down so that it is snug against the clock face side of the CD.

STEP 5-Twist the pipe cleaner together two times to secure the button against the CD.

Your hands-on clock for learning to tell time is complete! Here is how we used our clock with my second grader’s Common Core math homework.

Common Core Math Learning to Tell Time

The Stretch Your Thinking problems on my son’s Common Core math homework always seem to be a reason for discussion (and all-to-often stress), but this lesson on learning to tell time and read a clock made perfect use of our hands-on clock toy.

The question asked about positions of both the hour-hand and minute-hand. My son had to show possible times that the clock would read if both hands were between the 12 and 2 on an analog clock. There were a few minutes where he was really trying to visualize this in his mind, and he could have drawn multiple pictures, but I had this clock made and knew it would help.

Almost immediately my son could answer the Common Core math question because he had a hands-on manipulative to help him learning to tell time. I helped a bit to show him how he could move the clock hands on our DIY toy clock.

This hands-on clock toy will be really helpful for math games I will be doing with my preschooler who is homeschooled. It will be a great addition to her learning about time by playing with the clock to explore in a hands-on way.

Looking for some math games for learning to tell time?

Here are a few:

-Make a paper plate clock with flaps for reading the minutes.

-Creating cardboard clocks showing the time of regular events in your day is great way to expose even younger kids to learning to tell time.

-This is an easy way to challenge your child to connect analog and digital times.

-Even computer time can involve learning to tell time with this game.

-If you homeschool, this is a great way to teach about counting by fives when reading the minute hand.

-Have a basketball fan? This interactive computer game teaches telling time and hand-eye coordination.

 Linked up at Motivation Monday.